Mail-box.



J. E. LOUDENSLAGER, Jn.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MN. l5, 1913.

Patented J una 1,

@mmm/bof,

Wx., l W. bf MW ma,

anomalia l y oracion.

JOHN E. LOUDENSLAGER, JR., or HAGERsTowN, MARYLAND.

` Application mea Januaryv 15, 1913.

T0 @ZZ-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. LoUDEN- sLAGER, Jr., a citizen ofthe .United States, residing `at, Hagerstown, in thepcounty of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to mail boxes; and it has for its object the provision ofadjusting mechanism whichV may be operated by the foot to control open adjustments of the chute at the receiving opening of the box.

Another object of the invention isV to provide a controlling mechanism which will be gravitationally restored to an operative position to directly contact with a portion of the chute when the latter is in its initial closed position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and. arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying.-drawings:-Figure lis a vertical'section through a mail box, showing the application of the chute adjusting mechanism thereto andillustrating the normally closed position ofthe chute; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the mechanism operated to elfect an open adjustment of the chute.

lIhe mechanism is designed particularly for use upon mailboxes, which are adapted for the reception of packages, but it is to be understood'that it may be associated with any Vform of i article Vreceiving receptacle Vwherein is included a movable closure for the receiving opening ofthe receptacle. In

providing mechanism which may be posij tively controlled through therfoot of the Voperator to thereby eliminate the necessity of a hand manipulation of the chute during the operation of depositing articles within the receptaclef The receptacle lfis provided with an article receiving opening 2 and such opening is formed by the inward bending `of the front wall 2 of the said receptacle,

whereby forming the closure with a horizontally disposed stop 3. .i The topwall L1 of the closure is providedV with a vertically disposed stop 5. Pivotally connected to the free transverse edge of the horizontally disposed stop 3 is a swinging closure 3, which is providedwith a gravitationally controlled chute 4, which extends downwardly and Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 1, 1915.. serial No. 742,251.

rearwardly in the direction of the bottom of the receptacle and Vrelatively associated with the rocking arm 5 ofthe opening mechanism It will of course, be understood [that upon the closed position of the closure 3, the same engages with the stop 5', whereby limiting any further inward movement thereof, and upon the eXtreme open position of the said closure, the same engages with the horizontally disposed stop 3. The said rocking'arm is pivoted at 6 to a suitable support 7 within the receptacle and as illustrated said arm is provided forwardly of its point of pivotal connection with the support with an extension 7, which is pivoted at 8 to the upper end of a controlling rod 9. Said rod is preferably extended downwardly and forwardly toward the front wall of the' receptacle and as shown the lower end of the rod is movable in an opening l0 in the bottom of the receptacle, while beneath the bottom, the rod is provided with an integral foot treadle l1, which will be depressed by the foot of the operator so as to cause the curved actuatingsurface l2 of the rocking arm 5 to advance against the adjacent surface 13 of said gravitationally influenced chute 4, whereby to move the latter to the position shown in Fig. 2 and thereby eifect an open adjustment of the closure portion 3 of the chute.` From this constructiomit is evident that the closure 3 may be conveniently opened without necessitating a direct manipulation thereof bythe hand of the operator, thereby facilitating the operation of depositing the article in the receptacle, as is apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1. In a device of the character described, a receptacle including top, bottom and front walls, the front wall of said receptacle being extended inwardly, forming the receptacle with a receiving opening and providing a horizontally disposed stop, a closure for said opening vpivotally connected at its medial portion to the free transverse edge of said stop,fa support disposed beneath said stop, and closure operating means pivotally mounted on said support and housed within the receptacle, and having a portion eX- tendedthrough an opening in the bottom of said receptacle to provide a manipulating portion for said operating means.

2. In a device of the class described, a receptacle includingtop, bottom and front Walls, the front Walllofsaid receptacle being y extended inwardly, forming the receptacle with a receiving opening and providing a horizontally disposed stop, a closure for said opening pivotally connected at its medial portion to the free transverse edge Vof said stop, a vsupport disposed Withinthe re` ceptacie and beneath said stop, and .closure operating means pivotally Inountedfon said support and having a portionthereof exr-V tended through an opening in the bottorn'of-V said receptacle to provide almanipulating- Gophersv attbi: patent may liu obtained for portion for' said operating means, a second x stop formed at right angles to the first men- Y tioned stop'. and adapted to Ylimit the Inovef ment of the closure in one direction andthe other of said stops limiting the ,movement of the closure in the opposite direction..

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in presence of tivo Witnesses. Y

JOHN EJLO'UDENSLAGER, JR. Witnesses: ,e JOHN LoUDENsLAGnR,

Gf Og- ANDERSON.: Y 

